Crime Scene, circa 2820 (2015) Dessin par Edwin Loftus

This is not a science-fiction crime mystery. This is art based on scientific speculation. Viewed from above, at some point in the future, in some place in the Tingle Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, an assassin from some other world steps over the bodies of its victims, a prominent female reptilian and her two human bodyguards.
That is what is depicted, but not what this is about.
Theoretical Xenologists have many speculations about life on other worlds and they justify this with the "trillions of possible inhabitable worlds" theory. That's not science, that's pure speculation with a little data and "probability theory" to make it look "scientific."
But this is science. If we ever encounter intelligent beings similar enough to us that we can view and interact with them as peers, their physiology will be in keeping with the same principals of physics that we are. As that physics has influenced life on earth, it has been a larger range, but less than largest, social, hunter/gatherer, bipedal species that has emerged as the most potentially intelligent and capable of interacting with a culture from another planet. Every one of those descriptions has probably been a necessary one in our evolution. But they are not necessarily prerequisites for all intelligent life forms.
We can drop; larger range. Doing so increases the number of threats and competitors another species had to encounter, but doesn't necessarily preclude their development.
We can separate hunter from gatherer. It makes things more difficult not being omnivorous, but doesn't ensure failure.
We can drop bipedal. Two limbs with gripping and fine manipulation potential might be necessary, but how many other limbs there are could be open to a wide range of variations.
The remaining prerequisites based on observable data are; "probably not largest" because being physically unrivalled would decrease the need to develop a compensating characteristic, like intelligence. Sociality increases the potential for coordinated action, ergo, intelligence, and the potential to survive risk taking. The understood physics of cell structuring as we know it, limits total weight of a land dwelling organism capable of movement. What this suggests is that there is a good chance that, if we interact with other intelligent species, there is a good chance that we will have a physical advantage compared to them, just a chance, but a good chance.
As hunters, rather than scavengers, gatherers, parasites or grazers, we may have an advantage in aggressiveness and the physical aptitudes that go with it.
So, as you look at this picture, note that the prominent reptilian has hired human bodyguards because, compared to most species, they are relatively large, strong, and aggressive. (though, that wasn't enough in this scenario).
If these speculations are anywhere near correct, we may have another role in the Tingle Arm, that of conquerors. Something like interplanetary imperialism is a likely role in the future. If we find habitable planets without intelligent life, will we not claim them as our own? But what about planets with intelligent life, but life that we could subordinate to our own needs? Not subordinating another intelligent species leaves them with the possibility of some day subordinating us.
People today enjoy condemning "The Age of Imperialism," here on earth. But they seldom include an understanding of the factors driving that period and without those their condemnations are valueless, except as temporary political talking points. We have done nothing to preclude our planet's cooperative engagement in imperialism in space if that opportunity ever arises.

Thèmes connexes

XenologySpeculationImperialism